Humans" impact on Earth began a new epoch in the 1950s called the Anthropocene, scientists say
From climate change to species loss and pollution, humans have etched their impact on Earth with such strength and permanence since the middle of the 20th century that a special team of scientists says a new geologic epoch began then......»»
What did the snowball Earth look like?
Entire continents, even in the tropics, seems to have been under sheets of ice. By now, it has been firmly established that the Earth went through a series of global glaciations a.....»»
Want to slash social housing waitlists? We should allow tenants to swap homes
There are 184,100 people on social housing waiting lists around the country, reflecting the impact of declining homeownership and escalating private rents......»»
Is South Africa one of the most politically polarized countries in the world? No, it"s not, says sociologist
A number of reports have called South Africa a politically polarized society. This may seem uncontroversial, given the country's history of dispossession and discrimination during colonialism and apartheid, and their continuing legacy after 30 years.....»»
Scientists develop a phase-transformable membrane for efficient gas separation
Industrial gas separation, essential for clean energy and environmental protection, demands efficiency and adaptability. Current materials, however, lack the flexibility to selectively separate gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) while.....»»
Infostealers increasingly impact global security
Check Point Software’s latest threat index reveals a significant rise in infostealers like Lumma Stealer, while mobile malware like Necro continues to pose a significant threat, highlighting the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals across the gl.....»»
New secret math benchmark stumps AI models and PhDs alike
FrontierMath's difficult questions remain unpublished so that AI companies can't train against it. On Friday, research organization Epoch AI released FrontierMath, a new mathemati.....»»
Disney+ 2025 preview trailer teases Andor season 2, The Bear season 4, Alien: Earth, and more
To celebrate the streamer's fifth anniversary, Disney+ released a trailer featuring upcoming TV shows in 2025, including Andor season 2 and The Bear season 4......»»
Bioluminescent proteins made from scratch enable non-invasive, multi-functional biological imaging
Bioluminescence is the natural chemical process of light creation in some living creatures that makes fireflies flicker and some jellyfish glow. Scientists have long been interested in borrowing the secrets of these animals' light-producing genes to.....»»
Will we be able to continue living by the sea? Ocean experts explore considerations for governments
A publication recently launched by leading European Ocean scientists, titled Navigating the Future VI (NFVI), calls attention to the fact that we do not yet sufficiently consider how climate-induced changes in the ocean will impact how we live alongs.....»»
Using CRISPR to decipher whether gene variants lead to cancer
In recent years, scientists have created a range of new methods based on CRISPR-Cas technology for precisely editing the genetic material of living organisms. One application is in cell therapy: A patient's immune cells can be specifically reprogramm.....»»
Happy New Year on Mars
12 November 2024 marks the start of a new year on Mars. At exactly 10:32 CET/09:32 UTC on Earth, the Red Planet begins a new orbit around our sun......»»
AI-enhanced model could improve space weather forecasting
"Killer electrons" that travel at nearly light speed inside Earth's Van Allen belts—the zone that surrounds the planet and traps energetic charged particles—pose a major threat to equipment in space by causing malfunctions in electronics......»»
New CRISPR system for gene silencing doesn"t rely on cutting DNA
Scientists from Vilnius University's (VU) Life Sciences Center (LSC) have discovered a unique way for cells to silence specific genes without cutting DNA. This research, led by Prof. Patrick Pausch and published in the journal Nature Communications,.....»»
Miniature tag offers unique insight into the movement of hummingbirds
Scientists from the University of Aberdeen have attached tiny "backpack" type trackers to hummingbirds in the Andes in a bid to learn more about their movements......»»
Swirling polar vortices likely exist on the sun, new research finds
Like the Earth, the sun likely has swirling polar vortices, according to new research led by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR). But unlike on Earth, the formation and evolution of these vortices.....»»
Was "Snowball Earth" a global event? New study delivers best proof yet
Geologists have uncovered strong evidence from Colorado that massive glaciers covered Earth down to the equator hundreds of millions of years ago, transforming the planet into an icicle floating in space......»»
Team reveals how current sheets in turbulent plasma form in Earth"s magnetosheath
Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental physical process in plasmas, through which the magnetic energy is converted into plasma kinetic energy and thermal energy rapidly. Current sheets in turbulent plasma are the key trigger for magnetic reconnection.....»»
New AI model improves prediction power for genomics related to disease
To understand the workings of DNA in relation to disease, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed the first multimodal deep learning model of its kind, EPBDxDNABERT-2, capable of ascertaining the precise relationship between trans.....»»
US blocks TSMC chip exports, but Apple"s chips face a different threat
A US order to TSMC to cut AI chip supplies to China over Huawei sanctions won't cause problems for Apple. However, Taiwan's prohibition of TSMC producing 2-nanometer chips elsewhere could make an impact.A TSMC factory sign - Image credit: TSMCU.S. sa.....»»
Secrets of the corpse flower revealed
The unusual odor of the titan arum, commonly called the corpse flower because its scent is reminiscent of rotting flesh, draws crowds of curious visitors to greenhouses around the world during its rare blooms. What also intrigues scientists is the co.....»»